NCJ Number
143270
Date Published
1993
Length
113 pages
Annotation
Prosecution of environmental crime is discussed.
Abstract
This report, directed specifically at district attorneys and policymakers, describes the experiences of five local prosecutors' offices in combating environmental crime. The research is based largely upon site visits to the following prosecutors' offices: Alameda County, California; Cook County, Illinois; Jefferson and Gilpin Counties, Colorado; Los Angeles County, California; and Monmouth County, New Jersey. These offices were chosen because they have made the prosecution of environmental crime a major priority. An extensive review of relevant literature, statutes, and case law also was conducted. The purposes of this report are to encourage more local prosecutors to involve their offices in environmental prosecutions and to provide basic information necessary to establish an environmental prosecution program and to achieve success in environmental cases. It is not meant however, to be an in- depth manual on the investigation and prosecution of environmental cases. Part One of the report discusses the nature and extent of environmental crime and the current state of criminal prosecution. Part Two provides an in-depth discussion regarding the development of more effective local prosecution of environmental crime including interagency cooperation, interjurisdictional issues, training needs, and statutory issues. A glossary of terms and acronyms and a list of cases appear at the end of the text. Three appendixes contain Federal environmental criminal enforcement statutes, resources for local environmental criminal prosecution, and sample environmental criminal statutes. The authors make recommendations intended to help local authorities enhance their response to environmental crime.